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GENERAL TOPICS | BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS / Re: Destiny and Free will
« on: July 18, 2022, 05:34:16 AM »
Good Always Wins
Denying God or associating partners with Him is a derivative of confronting the evil in ourselves, just like persecuting others. Again, it is a matter of turning one's back on revelation and the promise one made at birth and wronging oneself. In fact, since the most basic revelation/divine knowledge given to us at our creation is the knowledge of Allah's existence and uniqueness, the disbelievers and polytheists have already begun to separate directly at the most fundamental point.
"When your Lord brings forth the offspring of the sons of Adam from their loins, He makes them witnesses to themselves: 'Am I not your Lord?' They say, 'Yes, we bear witness. So that on the Day of Resurrection you will not be able to say, 'We were unaware of this'" (Surat al-Araf: 172).
"You should devote yourself to religion as a monotheist (hanif). Indeed, ALLAH has created mankind with such a creation. There is no change in God's creation. This is a perfect religion, but most people do not know" (Surah Rum 30).
The verses that speak of the "breathing of the spirit" into the first human being and later into Jesus also describe this situation. This is because in the Qur'an, spirit is used in the sense of "revelation" (we also see the term Spirit used as a proper name for the "angel of revelation").
Surat al-Sajdah 9: Then he gave him a form and breathed into him of his own spirit. He created for you hearing, eyes and hearts. How little you give thanks!
Thanks to this knowledge that is implanted in us at birth, we are born with the belief in one God and the virtues of being kind to others (for those who do not exclude the verses/revelation within).
And as I have always said, it is because of this divine knowledge in our genes that we are obliged to believe in the Quran. The revelation that the Qur'an conveys is in harmony with the verses within us, and this is the greatest and fundamental proof that it is the holy book sent by Allah.
Surat al-Fussilet 53 We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within their own selves. That it may become clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough for your Lord that He is a witness over everything?
I have said that a person who behaves in harmony with the divine knowledge within him lives in goodness and faith in the truth. As an objection to this statement, one may try to present the evil deeds of some believers as evidence against it. But when we look at such people who persecute others and yet are called believers, we will see that most of them are in shirk and believe in false things. A person who is truly free from shirk and has a true religious belief will live as far away from evil and wrongdoing as possible. Or even if he is temporarily misbehaving, he will soon realize it and put himself in order.
Or, to give another example from another point of view, even if a good person is in disbelief or shirk, one day he will surely come to the right belief in this world. Even if he is in the last stages of his trial, he will reach religious acceptance, even if it is at a minimum level sufficient to take him to Paradise. The point to be noted here is that we need to look at people's lives as a whole. Both in terms of time and in terms of evaluating what they have done in all areas...And only our Lord knows who will be among the good ones, who will successfully complete the test... Therefore, we cannot know whether someone is one of the eternal bad ones or one of the good ones by looking at what they did in a certain period of time or in certain areas.
I have explained this issue in my article titled "Destiny and Free Will":
http://emre1974tr.blogspot.com/2011/07/kader-ve-ozgur-irade.html
Those who choose to do good of their own free will will surely win in the Hereafter, and will also enjoy blessings in this world.
"Allah has given them the blessings of this world and the good reward of the Hereafter; for Allah loves those who do good deeds." (Surah Al Imran, verse 148)
The phenomenon called goodness is one of the characteristics/attributes of Allah, who is eternal. In other words, this concept is not a set of rules that were created later for testing. Our test is completely based on this.
Surat al-Tur 28. "We used to call upon Him before; He is the Good, the Merciful."
***
I have already mentioned that when a person or a community follows false beliefs and persistently avoids turning to the truth/knowledge, to the verses, this imbalance manifests itself in other behaviors as well.
In history, we have already seen that societies that persist in their disbelief, in addition to their false beliefs, also exhibit other erroneous behaviors, especially those that harm/oppress people.
If we prove this in the light of the verses;
The cruelty of some of the Arabs towards their children during the period of ignorance:
Surah Al-Takvir 8 - When asked about the girl child who was buried alive,
Surah Al-Anam: 137 - So their associates made even killing their children seem a good thing to most of the polytheists. Thus they ruined them and confused and corrupted their religion. Had Allah willed, they could not have done this. Stay away from them and what they fabricate.
The oppression perpetrated by Pharaoh and his rulers in ancient Egypt:
Al-Qasas 4. The truth is that Pharaoh ruled in that place and divided its inhabitants into groups. He despised and oppressed one group of them: He slaughtered their male children and treated their women shamelessly/exploited their wombs/released their women into the world. He was indeed one of those who spread mischief.
The people of Lot were abusive even to guests:
Surah Hijr
67. The people of the city came rejoicing to hear the messengers.
68. Lot said: "These are my guests, do not disgrace me!"
69. "Fear Allah, do not disgrace me."
70. They said: "Did we not forbid you from dealing with the affairs of the world?"
71. Lot said: "If you are going to do anything, here are my daughters!"
72. By your life, they were wandering in their own stupor.
73. At last that terrible vibrating sound seized them at sunrise.
74. And We brought the upper part of that city down to its lower part, and We rained down on them stones of baked clay.
(By the way, it should be noted that the people of Lot, like other tribes, were destroyed primarily because of their disbelief. Not all members of this society, probably half or nearly half of whom were women, were homosexual, adulterous or abusive. The clearest evidence for this is that Lot's wife was among the wicked who were left behind and destroyed. Again, the main sin that gripped them all was associating partners with Allah and denying the signs. Their other unbalanced behaviors and sins were the side manifestations and consequences of turning their backs on revelation and cruelty).
Surat al-Ankabut 32 Abraham said: "But there is Lot there." They said: "We know better who is there. Surely We will save him and his family. Except his wife. She will be among those left behind."
The tyranny of the People of Ad:
Surah Shu'ara
128.Do you amuse yourselves by erecting on every high hill/road an astonishing building/sign!
129.Do you hope to become eternal by acquiring places that produce industry?
130.And when you seize them, do you seize them with force?
We see that the people of Median were also insensitive and oppressive towards people by cheating in trade and destroying the property of others:
Surah Hud
84. And We sent to Median their brother Shu'ayb. He said: "O my people! worship Allah. You have no gods besides Him. Do not under-measure and misweigh. I see you in blessing and prosperity, but I fear for you the torment of a day that will envelop you."
85. "O my people! Measure and weigh with complete honesty. Do not take from people's belongings. Do not go about in the earth making mischief."
86. "If you are believers, the profit left by Allah is better for you. I am not a watchman over you."
(Another detail that is noteworthy when we think of the destroyed societies of the past is that Allah sometimes brings the wicked/evildoers together in the world and makes them face themselves collectively. A society that was destroyed in the past means that Allah has brought together a group of wrongdoers who would have chosen evil of their own volition in the same history and geography).
In Surat al-Buruj, we again see the unbelievers torturing Muslims:
Buruj
5. Those men of the kindled fire,
6. They were sitting at its head.
7. And they were all watching what they were doing to the believers.
8. They took revenge on them only because they believed in Allah, the Exalted, the Mighty
9. Allah, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Allah is a witness to everything.
10. Verily, for those who torture believing men and believing women and then do not repent, for them is the torment of Hell. For them is also the torment of fire.
11. As for those who believe and do deeds of good and peace, for them are Gardens beneath which rivers flow. This is the great success.
In short, people who do not turn to the verses can drift into diseased thoughts and behaviors in many areas. In fact, the correct and beautiful behavior or thought is only possible by reaching out to the knowledge and commands of our Lord. Both what was given to us at creation and what we later learn from the Book... Whether we realize it or not...
The virtues and righteousness of everyone, including atheists, are based on this. Even if they are not aware of it, people behave in good and healthy ways when they listen to the verses within them.
Let us continue to see in the Qur'an that a Muslim, that is, a person who submits only to Allah, who will successfully complete the journey of testing, is also a good person, whereas those who will go to hell are the wicked:
Surah Beled
12. What makes you know what a steep slope is?
13. It is to untie the shackles of those who are chained.
14. Or to feed on the day of hunger and misery,
15. An orphan nearby,
16. Or a poor person who is oppressed and downtrodden.
17. Then to be of those who believe and offer patience and mercy to one another.
18. Such are the friends of good fortune and prosperity.
Surah Haqqa
30 "Take hold of him, bind him at once!"
31. Then shake him to hell!"
33. "Because he did not believe in Allah Most High."
34. "He did not encourage the poor to feed themselves."
35 "There is no warm friend for him here today."
Surah Ali Imran 198 But for those who fear their Lord there are gardens beneath them rivers flowing, abiding therein with a hospitality from Allah, and the rewards with Allah are better for the righteous.
Surat al-Nahl 122 We gave him beauty in this world, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the peace-loving righteous.
Surat al-Infitar
13. And this is certain: The righteous are in full bliss,
14. the wicked are in the middle of hell.
There is no such thing as a person whose heart is full of beauty going to hell by accident because he does not believe, or a cruel servant going to heaven when he does not deserve it. The good ones always win the test.
Believing in Allah and avoiding shirk is a manifestation of righteousness, while disbelief or associating partners and trying to get other masters is at least an injustice to oneself.
Accepting true knowledge and avoiding false beliefs and living virtuously are also part of good morals.
In addition, since what Allah, our only Master, asks of us is also aimed at eliminating or minimizing the troubles of the world, while at the same time maximizing the enjoyment of the good things of the world, walking in His way equals goodness in every respect.
To fulfill zakat constantly (sharing in all areas from the economy to our knowledge), to help those in need and exhibit good behavior, to stay away from lies, theft, murder and other evils, to produce beauty for the benefit of the whole world, to ensure material and spiritual wealth and peace, not to be a slave to anyone other than Allah and not to take anyone as a slave, to fulfill promises... These are all essential parts of compassion and goodness. The Qur'an demands these and even more from its servants.
Surah Al-Baqarah 83 And We took a promise from the Children of Israel: Worship none but Allah, and do good to parents, relatives, orphans, and the poor. Speak good and kindness to people. Perform the prayer and pay the zakat. After all this you turned away, except for a few of you. And you are still turning away.
Enam 151 Say to them: "Come, let me recite to your faces what your Lord has forbidden you: "Do not associate anything with Him. Be kind to your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach the evils, both the visible and the hidden. And do not kill a life that Allah has made honorable and cherished, except in defense of a right. Allah has recommended these things to you so that you may use your reason."
To summarize, the people of Paradise are the good people who think and produce beauty in the world, while the people of Hell are those who betray themselves in the first place.
Surah Yunus Surah 44 Allah does not oppress people in any way. But people persecute their own selves.
He who does not have mercy on himself will not have mercy on others in general. And so it is, as seen in the parables described in the verses.
Moreover, every evil done is also a cruelty to one's own self.
Every malicious trap he sets for others is actually a trap set for himself and into which he falls (as evidence against him in the Hereafter and to confront his cruelty).
***
Our Lord created us both to serve and for everyone to get what they deserve. So that the selves who deserve goodness will reach paradise, and those who are violent and corrupt will reach hell... Therefore, those who choose goodness will surely win, while those who choose oppression will lose.
(My Turkish article translated with machine)
http://emre1974tr.blogspot.com/2013/03/iyiler-mutlaka-kazanr.html
Peace
Denying God or associating partners with Him is a derivative of confronting the evil in ourselves, just like persecuting others. Again, it is a matter of turning one's back on revelation and the promise one made at birth and wronging oneself. In fact, since the most basic revelation/divine knowledge given to us at our creation is the knowledge of Allah's existence and uniqueness, the disbelievers and polytheists have already begun to separate directly at the most fundamental point.
"When your Lord brings forth the offspring of the sons of Adam from their loins, He makes them witnesses to themselves: 'Am I not your Lord?' They say, 'Yes, we bear witness. So that on the Day of Resurrection you will not be able to say, 'We were unaware of this'" (Surat al-Araf: 172).
"You should devote yourself to religion as a monotheist (hanif). Indeed, ALLAH has created mankind with such a creation. There is no change in God's creation. This is a perfect religion, but most people do not know" (Surah Rum 30).
The verses that speak of the "breathing of the spirit" into the first human being and later into Jesus also describe this situation. This is because in the Qur'an, spirit is used in the sense of "revelation" (we also see the term Spirit used as a proper name for the "angel of revelation").
Surat al-Sajdah 9: Then he gave him a form and breathed into him of his own spirit. He created for you hearing, eyes and hearts. How little you give thanks!
Thanks to this knowledge that is implanted in us at birth, we are born with the belief in one God and the virtues of being kind to others (for those who do not exclude the verses/revelation within).
And as I have always said, it is because of this divine knowledge in our genes that we are obliged to believe in the Quran. The revelation that the Qur'an conveys is in harmony with the verses within us, and this is the greatest and fundamental proof that it is the holy book sent by Allah.
Surat al-Fussilet 53 We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within their own selves. That it may become clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough for your Lord that He is a witness over everything?
I have said that a person who behaves in harmony with the divine knowledge within him lives in goodness and faith in the truth. As an objection to this statement, one may try to present the evil deeds of some believers as evidence against it. But when we look at such people who persecute others and yet are called believers, we will see that most of them are in shirk and believe in false things. A person who is truly free from shirk and has a true religious belief will live as far away from evil and wrongdoing as possible. Or even if he is temporarily misbehaving, he will soon realize it and put himself in order.
Or, to give another example from another point of view, even if a good person is in disbelief or shirk, one day he will surely come to the right belief in this world. Even if he is in the last stages of his trial, he will reach religious acceptance, even if it is at a minimum level sufficient to take him to Paradise. The point to be noted here is that we need to look at people's lives as a whole. Both in terms of time and in terms of evaluating what they have done in all areas...And only our Lord knows who will be among the good ones, who will successfully complete the test... Therefore, we cannot know whether someone is one of the eternal bad ones or one of the good ones by looking at what they did in a certain period of time or in certain areas.
I have explained this issue in my article titled "Destiny and Free Will":
http://emre1974tr.blogspot.com/2011/07/kader-ve-ozgur-irade.html
Those who choose to do good of their own free will will surely win in the Hereafter, and will also enjoy blessings in this world.
"Allah has given them the blessings of this world and the good reward of the Hereafter; for Allah loves those who do good deeds." (Surah Al Imran, verse 148)
The phenomenon called goodness is one of the characteristics/attributes of Allah, who is eternal. In other words, this concept is not a set of rules that were created later for testing. Our test is completely based on this.
Surat al-Tur 28. "We used to call upon Him before; He is the Good, the Merciful."
***
I have already mentioned that when a person or a community follows false beliefs and persistently avoids turning to the truth/knowledge, to the verses, this imbalance manifests itself in other behaviors as well.
In history, we have already seen that societies that persist in their disbelief, in addition to their false beliefs, also exhibit other erroneous behaviors, especially those that harm/oppress people.
If we prove this in the light of the verses;
The cruelty of some of the Arabs towards their children during the period of ignorance:
Surah Al-Takvir 8 - When asked about the girl child who was buried alive,
Surah Al-Anam: 137 - So their associates made even killing their children seem a good thing to most of the polytheists. Thus they ruined them and confused and corrupted their religion. Had Allah willed, they could not have done this. Stay away from them and what they fabricate.
The oppression perpetrated by Pharaoh and his rulers in ancient Egypt:
Al-Qasas 4. The truth is that Pharaoh ruled in that place and divided its inhabitants into groups. He despised and oppressed one group of them: He slaughtered their male children and treated their women shamelessly/exploited their wombs/released their women into the world. He was indeed one of those who spread mischief.
The people of Lot were abusive even to guests:
Surah Hijr
67. The people of the city came rejoicing to hear the messengers.
68. Lot said: "These are my guests, do not disgrace me!"
69. "Fear Allah, do not disgrace me."
70. They said: "Did we not forbid you from dealing with the affairs of the world?"
71. Lot said: "If you are going to do anything, here are my daughters!"
72. By your life, they were wandering in their own stupor.
73. At last that terrible vibrating sound seized them at sunrise.
74. And We brought the upper part of that city down to its lower part, and We rained down on them stones of baked clay.
(By the way, it should be noted that the people of Lot, like other tribes, were destroyed primarily because of their disbelief. Not all members of this society, probably half or nearly half of whom were women, were homosexual, adulterous or abusive. The clearest evidence for this is that Lot's wife was among the wicked who were left behind and destroyed. Again, the main sin that gripped them all was associating partners with Allah and denying the signs. Their other unbalanced behaviors and sins were the side manifestations and consequences of turning their backs on revelation and cruelty).
Surat al-Ankabut 32 Abraham said: "But there is Lot there." They said: "We know better who is there. Surely We will save him and his family. Except his wife. She will be among those left behind."
The tyranny of the People of Ad:
Surah Shu'ara
128.Do you amuse yourselves by erecting on every high hill/road an astonishing building/sign!
129.Do you hope to become eternal by acquiring places that produce industry?
130.And when you seize them, do you seize them with force?
We see that the people of Median were also insensitive and oppressive towards people by cheating in trade and destroying the property of others:
Surah Hud
84. And We sent to Median their brother Shu'ayb. He said: "O my people! worship Allah. You have no gods besides Him. Do not under-measure and misweigh. I see you in blessing and prosperity, but I fear for you the torment of a day that will envelop you."
85. "O my people! Measure and weigh with complete honesty. Do not take from people's belongings. Do not go about in the earth making mischief."
86. "If you are believers, the profit left by Allah is better for you. I am not a watchman over you."
(Another detail that is noteworthy when we think of the destroyed societies of the past is that Allah sometimes brings the wicked/evildoers together in the world and makes them face themselves collectively. A society that was destroyed in the past means that Allah has brought together a group of wrongdoers who would have chosen evil of their own volition in the same history and geography).
In Surat al-Buruj, we again see the unbelievers torturing Muslims:
Buruj
5. Those men of the kindled fire,
6. They were sitting at its head.
7. And they were all watching what they were doing to the believers.
8. They took revenge on them only because they believed in Allah, the Exalted, the Mighty
9. Allah, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Allah is a witness to everything.
10. Verily, for those who torture believing men and believing women and then do not repent, for them is the torment of Hell. For them is also the torment of fire.
11. As for those who believe and do deeds of good and peace, for them are Gardens beneath which rivers flow. This is the great success.
In short, people who do not turn to the verses can drift into diseased thoughts and behaviors in many areas. In fact, the correct and beautiful behavior or thought is only possible by reaching out to the knowledge and commands of our Lord. Both what was given to us at creation and what we later learn from the Book... Whether we realize it or not...
The virtues and righteousness of everyone, including atheists, are based on this. Even if they are not aware of it, people behave in good and healthy ways when they listen to the verses within them.
Let us continue to see in the Qur'an that a Muslim, that is, a person who submits only to Allah, who will successfully complete the journey of testing, is also a good person, whereas those who will go to hell are the wicked:
Surah Beled
12. What makes you know what a steep slope is?
13. It is to untie the shackles of those who are chained.
14. Or to feed on the day of hunger and misery,
15. An orphan nearby,
16. Or a poor person who is oppressed and downtrodden.
17. Then to be of those who believe and offer patience and mercy to one another.
18. Such are the friends of good fortune and prosperity.
Surah Haqqa
30 "Take hold of him, bind him at once!"
31. Then shake him to hell!"
33. "Because he did not believe in Allah Most High."
34. "He did not encourage the poor to feed themselves."
35 "There is no warm friend for him here today."
Surah Ali Imran 198 But for those who fear their Lord there are gardens beneath them rivers flowing, abiding therein with a hospitality from Allah, and the rewards with Allah are better for the righteous.
Surat al-Nahl 122 We gave him beauty in this world, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the peace-loving righteous.
Surat al-Infitar
13. And this is certain: The righteous are in full bliss,
14. the wicked are in the middle of hell.
There is no such thing as a person whose heart is full of beauty going to hell by accident because he does not believe, or a cruel servant going to heaven when he does not deserve it. The good ones always win the test.
Believing in Allah and avoiding shirk is a manifestation of righteousness, while disbelief or associating partners and trying to get other masters is at least an injustice to oneself.
Accepting true knowledge and avoiding false beliefs and living virtuously are also part of good morals.
In addition, since what Allah, our only Master, asks of us is also aimed at eliminating or minimizing the troubles of the world, while at the same time maximizing the enjoyment of the good things of the world, walking in His way equals goodness in every respect.
To fulfill zakat constantly (sharing in all areas from the economy to our knowledge), to help those in need and exhibit good behavior, to stay away from lies, theft, murder and other evils, to produce beauty for the benefit of the whole world, to ensure material and spiritual wealth and peace, not to be a slave to anyone other than Allah and not to take anyone as a slave, to fulfill promises... These are all essential parts of compassion and goodness. The Qur'an demands these and even more from its servants.
Surah Al-Baqarah 83 And We took a promise from the Children of Israel: Worship none but Allah, and do good to parents, relatives, orphans, and the poor. Speak good and kindness to people. Perform the prayer and pay the zakat. After all this you turned away, except for a few of you. And you are still turning away.
Enam 151 Say to them: "Come, let me recite to your faces what your Lord has forbidden you: "Do not associate anything with Him. Be kind to your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach the evils, both the visible and the hidden. And do not kill a life that Allah has made honorable and cherished, except in defense of a right. Allah has recommended these things to you so that you may use your reason."
To summarize, the people of Paradise are the good people who think and produce beauty in the world, while the people of Hell are those who betray themselves in the first place.
Surah Yunus Surah 44 Allah does not oppress people in any way. But people persecute their own selves.
He who does not have mercy on himself will not have mercy on others in general. And so it is, as seen in the parables described in the verses.
Moreover, every evil done is also a cruelty to one's own self.
Every malicious trap he sets for others is actually a trap set for himself and into which he falls (as evidence against him in the Hereafter and to confront his cruelty).
***
Our Lord created us both to serve and for everyone to get what they deserve. So that the selves who deserve goodness will reach paradise, and those who are violent and corrupt will reach hell... Therefore, those who choose goodness will surely win, while those who choose oppression will lose.
(My Turkish article translated with machine)
http://emre1974tr.blogspot.com/2013/03/iyiler-mutlaka-kazanr.html
Peace